Rice on Target

By MIKE KEATINGThe Review Published: May 18, 2012 3:00 AM

CANTON -- Alliance senior Nate Rice and Louisville junior Riley Groves engaged in a pitchers' duel when the Northeastern Buckeye Conference met for the first time in regular-season play.

The same two right-handed pitchers took the mound for their postseason matchup and the rematch turned into a sequel to what occurred on April 10.

Except the result was different.

Rice fired a two-hitter, struck out a single-game high of 15 batters and hurled the Aviators to a 1-0 shutout win over Groves and the Leopards in the second of two Division II district semifinal at Munson Stadium Thursday evening.

"That was a great high school baseball game," Alliance head coach Jeff Graffice said. "Both pitchers threw the ball well."

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The Aviators (20-8) dropped a 1-0 decision in the first matchup between Rice and Groves at Union Title Field on a frigid Tuesday afternoon.

"When those pitched against each other, they both threw well both times and it was hard to score runs," Louisville head coach Jason Siegfried said. "We stole a run against them on a bases-loaded walk in the first game and they stole a run against us in this game."

Groves, who limited Alliance to two singles in the one-run regular-season game captured by the Leopards (17-8), only allowed three hits in the rematch. He only fanned two batters in the rematch, compared to eight in the first meeting. He was efficient in his complete-game effort, throwing 91 pitches, including 59 for strikes.

Since he finished with more strikeouts, Rice threw more pitches than his counterpart, but he also showed excellent command. Rice's pitch count reached 104, including 73 for strikes.

"His fastball was phenomenal," Alliance pitching coach Tim Tasker said. "He was throwing it inside and outside effectively. His slider was real good against their right-handed batters. He only threw three curves because his slider was good, but he good strikeouts on all three pitches."

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Rice, who captured his seventh win in nine decisions and also added a single, admitted he was in a comfort zone.

"I was consistent, hitting my spots," he added. "I also was focused."

Alliance scored the lone run of the game in the first inning.

With two outs, senior right fielder Mark Pisanello lined a double to deep left, a ball that bounced off the fence. He advanced to third on a wild pickoff throw and scored on a wild pitch.

"Pisanello hit the ball hard and we were able to take advantage of their mistake," Graffice said.

The Aviators threatened to extend their lead in the fourth inning, loading the bases with one out. Groves escaped the jam by picking a runner off first and inducing a grounder to second.

"We would have liked to added some runs and we made a bad baserunning mistake, but you have to give Louisville credit," Graffice said. "They executed a great pickoff play and Groves got a big out when he needed to get one."

After Rice retired the first nine batters, including six on strikes, Louisville mounted its first scoring threat in the fourth inning. Kyle White singled and Connor Ruffier drew a walk. White and Ruffier executed a double steal, putting runners in scoring position with one out,

Rice, however, reached back and struck out the next two batters, preserving his one-run lead.

"It was in my head we only winning 1-0 and I was mad they were able to pull off that double steal, but I just concentrated on each batter," Rice said.

In the sixth inning, Louisville had runners on second and third with two outs. On a 3-2 count, Rice fanned the next batter, stranding two more runners in scoring position.

"We had our opportunities," Siegfried said. "We had runners on second and third twice, but we couldn't get the big hit."

Alliance threatened to score in the top of the seventh. With one out, Hunter Cannon singled inside the bag at third. Rice reached on an error and Michael Whitaker sacrificed the runners to second and third. It appeared small ball was going to work. Zach Wyss stroked a looping fly ball in short left field, but Ruffier made a running catch near the foul line to retire the side.

Pitching with confidence, Rice only needed eight pitches to set down Louisville. The first two batters fanned and the third lifted a lazy fly to Sam Cundiff in centerfield to end the game.

"It was a good game, one that's hard to lose, but I'm still proud of my kids," Siegfried said. "We had a good season."

Alliance advanced to meet Canton South, which needed 12 innings to blank Triway, 1-0, in the first district semifinal Thursday, for the title at 4:30 this afternoon in Munson Stadium.